Chapter Fifty-Four: A Circus Act? No, It’s Music!

If Wenyan were to realize that after all her efforts to put on a good show, not only did she not receive a flood of praise, but everyone instead turned their attention to discussing Bai Ling, her mood would likely hit rock bottom. Perhaps her already less-than-favorable impression of Bai Ling would plummet even further.

Just as Wenyan finished her performance, Bai Ling had already washed all the dishes and, with the help of the Zhou couple, brought up two pots of tea. After a lavish meal, sipping tea with friends—such is the simple delight of life.

Bai Ling knew nothing of the art of brewing or pouring tea. She simply brought the tea up and poured cups for the elders present. As for Ouyang Ruofeng and the others, Bai Ling thought for a moment, then poured cups for them as well. Otherwise, she might have been accused of being too deliberate.

Everyone thanked her as they accepted the tea from her hands. The fragrance of the tea wafted gently through the air; though it was not a rare variety, it perfectly conveyed the Zhou couple’s hospitality.

Since it was still quite hot, Teacher Wen Huaiyu, upon receiving his cup, said, “Bai Ling, it’s your turn now!”

“Don’t tell me washing dishes and cleaning pots is your talent, because I won’t accept that,” he teased.

The others turned to watch with interest.

Bai Ling laughed lightly. “Oh, come on. I just finished working, I’m a little tired. Can’t you let me off?”

Wen Huaiyu chuckled. “No can do. If we let you skip the performance, you’ll have to miss tomorrow’s field trip, which would be terribly unfair.”

“How about this: it’s not up to me. Let everyone decide. If the group thinks you shouldn’t go, then I’ll step back from the matter.”

With that, who would dare deprive Bai Ling of her chance? Instantly, everyone raised both hands in support. “I have no intention of keeping Bai Ling here—I’m absolutely in favor!”

Given such an enthusiastic response, Bai Ling had no way out.

“Oh, you people…”

Since they insisted, there was no escaping. She could only smile wryly. “I’ll do something simple, don’t laugh at me.”

As for dancing, Bai Ling dismissed the thought. To be honest, she was quite tired. Singing? Far too cliché. Everyone had sung, pulling out all the stops to showcase their skills. Coincidentally, Bai Ling’s singing ability was barely passable. Hardly presentable. If she tried, she’d only invite ridicule—hardly appropriate.

So, after a moment’s consideration, Bai Ling picked up a chopstick. Everyone was looking forward to her performance, wondering whether she’d choose to dance or sing. But when they saw her action, they froze.

“Bai Ling, what are you doing?”

“What’s going on?”

“Are you going to do a magic trick for us?”

“Even if it’s a trick, one chopstick isn’t enough.”

Ouyang Ruofeng, thinking deeply, offered a bold guess.

Everyone was speechless, and the livestream audience was equally curious.

“Honestly, I can’t think of anything other than a magic trick as to why Bai Ling would do this.”

“What’s happening?”

“Sister Bai, sing for us!”

“I want to see the sword dance again!”

“Me too!”

“I’d sign a petition if I could—put the chopstick down!”

Hearing Ouyang Ruofeng’s teasing, Bai Ling considered seriously. “You make a good point. One chopstick isn’t enough.”

With that, she got up and fetched a second, then a third. Now everyone was even more baffled.

Lin Yubai, rarely speaking up, asked, “Are you really going to do a trick?”

He watched her, growing increasingly unable to figure her out. In truth, Lin Yubai and Bai Ling had no special connection; they’d not known each other before. On a previous show, Lin Yubai had taken the opportunity to shift some of his troubles onto Bai Ling. But he didn’t feel he’d done anything wrong, so he hadn’t given it another thought.

Now, however, he found himself intrigued—not by Bai Ling herself, but by what she was about to do.

Bai Ling saw the confusion in their eyes and grinned. “Not a magic trick. I don’t have that skill.”

She denied it, but no one seemed convinced. After all, her sword dance had left such a deep impression. With such talent, it wouldn’t be surprising if she could do a few tricks as well.

Bai Ling ignored their gazes, took the chopsticks, gathered the tea cups to the center, and began pouring tea back and forth between several cups. Soon, the six or seven cups each held different amounts.

Everyone watched, growing more and more puzzled, but Bai Ling wasn’t finished. She brought over two plates of different materials.

Then, Bai Ling tapped each cup and plate in turn with her chopsticks.

At once, the expressions of Teacher Jin Chenglin and Teacher Wen Haiquan changed. The camera keenly captured their reactions. At the same time, Leng Yan was beginning to shift in his seat.

“Do the teachers know what’s happening?”

“Can someone explain what she’s doing?”

“I don’t get it either—what’s going on?”

“What is Bai Ling up to?”

“Teacher Jin Chenglin must know—he’s nodding!”

“Same with Teacher Wen Haiquan—they definitely get it.”

“I’m so anxious! What’s going to happen next?”

If everyone else looked utterly lost, the viewers in the livestream might have reacted the same way as Lin Yubai and the others: simply dumbfounded. But they would get no answers. They would have to wait for Bai Ling to reveal her secret.

Once Bai Ling had finished preparing, she took up two chopsticks and began tapping the rims of the tea cups in a rhythmic pattern.

Instantly, a melody emerged.

It was like celestial music, snapping everyone to attention.

“No way, am I seeing this right?”

“Is it what I think it is?”

“Sis Bai is using the tea cups as instruments?”

“Seriously? How’s she doing that?”

“Sure, I know things make sounds when struck, and some objects can sound like instruments, but… these are just ordinary tea cups. How is Bai Ling making such musical rhythms?”

“I get it—it’s the water, the tea inside the cups.”

“Right! The cups each have a different amount of tea—wasn’t that what Bai Ling was adjusting?”

“I see, it’s the transmission of sound!”

“But even so, these are just tea cups, not real instruments. How is Bai Ling getting each sound exactly as she wants?”

“This is incredible—her skill is amazing.”

“Now I understand why those big shots looked the way they did just now.”

“Haha, this is just like ventriloquism—an astonishing art!”